West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-08-04

lonely, and would willingly have ex-
changed the sound OF the surf for the
sociable snoring to which he was accus-
toned; but none Of these considerations
kept him awake long.
IL was nearly midnight when he was
startled out Of a sound sleep by strange
noise close TO his head, as II someone
were pounding on the gun. His heart
beat furiously, and he turned cold with
fear. The sound ceased after time, and
he heard footsteps on the sand
General, like most OF his race was a firm
believer in ghosts, aud as he pcered eau
tously forth from the mouth of the gun,
he more than half expected TO behold
some unearthly visitant. He was not a
little relieved, therefore, TO sec an object
looking very much like mortal man
walking along the shore. When the man
turned toward the gan again, General
drew back his head tortoise-like and slid
down into the cavernous depths. He
heard the foot steps coming nearer and
nearer. Now he was sure the man was
leaning against the gun.
Again there was that strange sound, but
this time General rightly guessed it to be
only the tapping OF fingers on the iron.
Soon he heard other steps on the sand,
and voice said, "You, Jim2'
"Yes, was the reply; "and no fun git
tin here, neither.
Then followed a conversation, most of
which was too low for Generals ears.
81 tell you 'taint safe, " at last he heard,
in louder tones. There's allus a gyuard
on there"
Generals interest increased. and he
hs. Il 80, s..lI l.. L
mented him a moment previous. The
murmur of voices continued but, though
he listened with all attention. il was
long before he distinguished any other
words. He Judged from the sound of
the voices that the two men disagreed on
some point. At last he was sure one Of
them said:"Well, well try t'other house
There's quite parcel of people there,
and likely Wen git something for our
trouble"
care you sure there aint no dog asked
the other.
Eyes, dead sure, " was the reply. Then
the men walked away, and General was
left alone once more. As soon as he
dared move, he put out his head, and
looked up and down the beach
All was quiet The neighboring
beacon made broad, shining pathway
on the water; the lights on the ships in
the harbor glimmered family.
General tried to compose himself for
another nap, but he could not help think
ing about what he had heard. lie be-
lieved that the men were planning TO
break into some house, but where and
when he knew not.
go 'Taint safe; dar's allus gyuard
on, he repeated. dat might mean de
hotel. 'T'other place-quite parcel OBJ
people-no dog"
General suddenly scrambled out Of
the gun upon the sand. 1t had occurred
to him that 't'other place" must mean
Miss Bcnson's, where the pretty lady
lived whose words had so impressed him
a few days before.
''Dar'll be a gyuard on dar, too, to-
night" he said, as he started off down
the beach Reckon dey didn't think
gun had ears"
The street was deserted, and all was
perfectly still as General cropt noiseessly
along on his bare feet past the hotel to-
ward Miss Benson's.
1t was long, low building, lying near
the shore, and not far from The main
road. At first he thought he would ring
the bell and give warming; but when he
reached the door he changed his mind.
This might not. after all, be the house
the men were talking about; and, even
if IL were, who would believe his story2
No, he must watch and wait for further
developments. lie withdrew, and sat
down on the ground behind some shrub
berry AS time passed on and nothing
haInnnnHH 20. & 10 1.
Yigal, his excitement subsidized, and he
began 20 feel sleepy.
General was just thinking il was all
foolishness on his part, and that he might
as well lie down under the shrubbcry and
take a nap, when a dark form glided
through the yard, and disappeared round
the corner Of the house. II looked like
a man with pack ON his back.
General crept out Of the sbrubberv,
and stole softly after him, keeping close
to the wall Of the house. His plan was TO
ring the door bell loud and long, rs soon
rs he discovered anything amiss but ho
would not do that till he was sure there
was cause for alarm
General followed him quietly at a safe
distance. Once tho man stopped sud
denly and looked back as If he heard
With beating heart, General
pressed close against the wall and stood
mOtiOnless until the stranger passed on
again. He turned another corner which
brought him on the side toward the
water, laid down his mysterious burden,
and walked toward the shore, where
there was a small wharf to which two or
three rOwboats were fastened. Here
another man joined him.
lie, too, carried something, which the
8rst took from him, and, after "a few
words, brought 10 the same
place where no had left his own bundle
Generals interest was now much
greater than his alarm He could not see
that the men were doing any harm Why
did they not try a door or window. II
hey wished TO commit r0bbCry3
Yet there was something about their
conduct that he did not understand
They evidently did not wish to be seen
Jr heard, and General had his suspicious
hat it would go hard with him were he
discovered
There was a large tree a few yards dis
.ant, which he thought would afford
iafe retreat but he dared not cross the
open space between, lest one Of the men
should see him. So nc lay nat on the
ground close TO the house, where he could
peer around the corner TO see what was
going on.
Giles gwine ter hab q smoke, said